Rail joint



, ou. 7, 1930. E Q NEAL A1,777,574

RAIL JoINT Filed Maron 3, 1930 2 sheets-smet 1 Oct. 7, 1930. E. c. NEAL v 1,777,574.

RAIL JOINT Filed March 5, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f l d I L 1 L q P tlf l l/h |I ll Il l/ n l lo l l`k\\\\1\\\\|\\ \\\\\\\|\\\\\\\\\1\\\\\L\\\\\W\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\Y\\1 i l In. mi. l 'HIM In /////////////////////////l Y////////////////////////// Patented Oct. 7, 1930 UNITnn srarne PATENT OFFICE 'ERNEST' C. NEAL, OF COQUILLE, OREGON RAIL JOINT Y Application mea Marcas, 1930. serial 110,432,808.

My invention relates to splice bars for railroadjoints. i

In the present .forms of railroad construction, the rail atV its ends, or in other words, the joints between adjacent rails, are .supported only by a single splice bar or fish platebolted thereto at each side.

The splice bar is adaped, when new, to fit closely between the ball and base flange of the rail and maintain, for a` while, a 'rigid joint, but the constant pounding` of the trains passing,r thereover in time wears the splice bar at the portions bearing o'n the ball and flange of the rail, respectively, and permits individual, vertical movements of the rail lends so that the trains passing overvthe joint wear the rail surface to below the surface line of the track.` j Y i j This is known as Wiroughrail surface and causes the train to sway and ,lurch, and in 'time the rough railsurface, if not corrected by constant yservices of the maintenance crews, may get so bad as to causederailment of the train. j j i To l prevent `such wear, it is the common :practice forthe maintenance crews 'to period ically tighten the splice bar bolts tomake the j ointrigid` again and to place shims between the splice bar and the ballof therail, but these only Vafford temporary.elimination of the vertical, play. `As a result, probably seventy-five percent ofthe t1-ack troubles are due to defective splice bars. Y i n ,Y

\ The objectof my invention is to provide simple, but effective splice bars for rail joints,

vadapted to rigidly support the joint underV all conditionsof service, andfthus prevent individual,,vertical movement relative to each, and the wear of the rail ends, and consequent uneven and rough surfaced track.

Furthermore, railroad rails are subjected L traction due tothe normal range in tempera- Ass ture between night and-day, which at midsummerj heat 1s approximately 1/8 inch in a standard 33 foot rail. To meet suchjconditions, the rails are laid with approximately l/L inch space between them, for inv theorysuch expansion and contraction would be from the center of the rail equally towards the ends.

However, such expansion actually follows the line of least resistance, as for example,

when the rail is laid on a grade, the total `eX- pansion will tend to be in one direction only, down hill. This is called creeping and will eventually, after a period of time, close upthe gaps between a numberl of the rails,

since at some point `further on, as at the boti tom of the `grade, the-resistance to expansion is sure to be in the opposite direction, with Y the result that further expansion of this group of rails will cause them to buckle and throw the trackfout of alinement, commonly known as sun kinks. Y

Devices for anchoring` the rails to the-ties have been provided to prevent such creeping, butthey have failed because their function has been to prevent'the expansion of theV rail, with the result that the force ofV expansion is so great as to press the anchors into the ,wood-. i

en ties, and they become loosened when the strain is relieved by the subsequent contraction of the rail; the rail then4 no longer firmlyheldto the tie, and the tendency te creep is no longer resisted. .i

Therefore, afin-ther object'of my invention isto provideV splice bars for rail joints adapted to permit the independent contractionand expansion of the irails, but togre- .sist .the expansion of the 4rails in the lines of least resistance, whereby each-rail will expand and contract equally from its center towards its ends and not movejas `annit relatively to the adjoining; rails; hence' the tioned undesirable results, will .be prevented.

A further object of my invention is to prof` vide splice-bars adapted to `hold the vrail.

`creeping ofthe rails, with the before mene" to a daily longitudinal expansion andconl aliiieinent, even though the splice bars are broken. y Y

I attain my objects in Va vertically expansible splice bar element including a biturcate' wedge element whose thicker end projects beyond the splice bar, means to effeet the spread of the bifurcated end of the wedge element thereby to prevent the re tractive movement of the wedge from the position to which advanced, abutments on the joined rails respectively, one of said abutmeiits located adjacent the projecting end of said wedge, the other atv the opposite end of the splice bar, whereby upon the longitudinal movement of the rails,-the vwedge element of the splice bar is further driven in and the splice bar is expanded thereby fto support and resist the meeting of the joined rail ends. Y

These and kother incidental features of my invention, the details of construction, and inode of operation are hereinafter fully described with reference to the accoinpanying drawings.

i In the drawings:

Fig. l shows a perspective, fragmentary view of two adjoining rails and illustrates my splice in position thereon;

Fig. 2 shows a section taken on the lines 2-2 of Figs. 3 and 4 and illustrates the relat-ive arrangement of the parts of my splice;

Fig. 3 shows a section taken on' the line 3 3 of Fig. 1';

Fig. 4t shows a. section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5jsliows a section taken on the line '5 5 ofFig. 4:; 1 K I Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the splice bar and boot separated one from the other;

Fig.

j ot 'the wedge and the boot, the latter partlyin section and Figs. 8 and 9 show respectively, perspec-r r tive views of the abutments carried by the adjoining rail ends. Y Y Referring now to Vthe drawings:

'l shows a rail joint comprising adjoining rail ends a, and my rail joint splicesvbolted. thereto on each side. Each splice comprises a splice bar c formed with a vertical web CZ, lateral base flanges e, and a Vlateral flange or ball 7 .at the top von the l side adjacentithe rail, formed, as at f, to fit closely against the yunderside of the. ball l g of the rail.l

A'boot-ZL is provided adapted to fit. on the ibase liange a' of the'rail which `has a longi- 'tudinahnndercut groove ,7 in its upper surface, adapted to receive the base flanges. e.

of the splice bar c, Figs. t and 6, but said undercut groove is optional; instead, said groove may be made with straight sides.

lThe bottom ofthe .groove j 4is tapered up- 7. shows enlarged, perspective viewsy wardly from one end, see Fig. 2, and has an inwardly extending wedge-like enlargement Ze provided at the other end, see Fig. 5. wedge Z, having a bifurcated end Z is inserted in the groove j between the bottom of the latter and the splice bar c, so that the enlargement c lies between the bifurcated ends Z of the wedge Z.

My splice, when thus assembled, is bolted to the rail ends on each side by track bolts m,

in the usual manner, as illustrated in Figs.

l, 3, and 4, so that the ball f ot the splice bar c lits closely under the ball g of the rail. The wedge Z is then driven into the groove 7' so that the splice bar c is` irinly seated between the base flange z' of the rail and the ball g, and thus provides a rigid support.

Abutmentso, 0 are bolted to the rail ends a, respectively, by bolts m, which are provided with inwardly projecting extensions p, p; the extension p being adapted to bear against the thick end Z2 of wedge Z and the extension p arranged to bear against the adjacent end of the boot, but it'is ot' less thickness so that the protruding, biiurcated ends Z of the wedge will overlie the said extension, and the bolt holes 7 in the rail ends through which the track bolts m are inserted are made oversize to permit a limited relative movement of the rail ends vto the splice bar c.

By this construction' and arrangement, the expansion of the rails will tend to force the wedge Zfurther into the boot and'move and hold the splice bar c rigidly between'tlie ball of the rail and base flange andv support the railen'ds as a rigid unit, thus to prevent their individual, Vvertical movement andthe consequent contraction of the rails when the A abutment o willbe drawn away from the end of the vwedge Z.

Also, sincethe thick end Z2 of the wedge Z bears againstthe abutment 0, the expansion loi'each rail will be yieldingly resisted and the tendency rof the rail to expand in one direction only, the line of least resistance, will be prevented so that each Vrail will expand and contract as a unit from its centers to the ends. l However, a plain wedge, without a bifur cated end and boot withoutan inwardly extending enlargement c at itsshallow end, may bensed, since'thedaily expansion ottlie rail will tend to drive the lwedge back into the boot, should any retractivemovement of the Vwedge tendto take place.

l kliurther ,1it is evident that my splice may also be used lwithout the abutments 0, o', and with'either aplain wedge or one with bifurlli picatediends, in which'case the wedge'may be maintained inthe Vboot by the periodic services of the maintenance 'crew/,who may tap the Wedge into place by means of a track maul or `the like tov remedy anyr'etractive movement."I l

f Further, the maximum possible inward movement of the wedge Z is adjusted so as to be less than the space 2 provided between therails ends', whereby the ends of the rails will not be permitted to come tightly together at any time, and thus prevent the rails from expanding and pushing the adjacent rails in the line of" least resistance,creating the socalled rail creeping with lits-undesirable results. 'So for example, if the'space between the rail ends isv normally 3%, inch, the greatest possible inward movement of the wedge is ML inchlandthe maximum expansion of a 33 foot rail l, inch, the gap of %i`nchbetween the rail ends will never be closed and bring the rails into abutment.

The bootsV la, also serve as retainers for the splice bars c, so that should one or both splice bars become broken they will still be held in place by the boot and thus the rails will be maintained in alinement. A

l. In a splice for rail joints, a vertically expansible splice bar element includingy a wedge element whose thicker end projects beyond the splice bar, meansto prevent the retractive movement of the wedge from the position to which advanced, an abutment on one of the joined rails adjacent said projecting `wedge end, whereby upon the longitudi- Aof the joined rails vadjacent said projecting wedge end, whereby upon the longitudinal movement of the rails, tlewedgeelementof thesplice bar i-s further driven in and the splicebar is expanded thereby to support and resist the meeting of the joined rail ends.

In asplic'e for rail joints, a vertically expansible splicef'bar element including'a wedge element whosethicler end projects beyond the `splice bar,` abutments on "the -`joined rails respectively,lone of said abutments located adjacent' thefpr-ojccting` end of said wedge, the other at the opposite end of the splice bar, where-byvupon the loungi-V tudinal movementof the rails, the .wedge element of the lsplicefba-r lisl further driven! in and the splice bar is expanded thereby to support' and resi'stthe meeting of the joined rail ends# W w 4. The combination with arail joint, of means preventing the creeping of the joined rails comprising, a boot mounted onthe base flange at the side of the rail acrossthe joint,

said boot compri-sing a base adapted to beV seatedv on the said `base flanges the upper face of the boot provided with a longitudinal groove, ,a wedge in said groove, the thicker end of which wedge projects beyond the boot,

a splice bar bearin'gwin said `groove of the boot on said wedge, the top of the splice bar bearing `against the lateral projections of the rail heads,\said splice bar secured to the web of the rails by-bolts-permitting the rails limited longitudinal 'expansion `and contraction, Y

an abutment secured to the web `ofone` of the joined rails `adjacent the projecting end of said Wedge, whereby upon the longitudinal movement of `the rail, said wedge will be furtherdriven in thereby to expand the splice bar and 1inte'rpose `resistance to the meeting of the-joined` rail ends.

5. The combination with a railjoint, et Y means preventing the creeping of the joined lrails comprising, a boot mounted on the base flanges at each of the sidesof the rails across the joint, said boot comprising a base adapted e to be `seated on said baselanges, the upper face of theboot provided witha 'longitudinal groove, ajwedge in saidgroovathe thicker end of which wedge projects beyondthefboot, a splice bar bearing in saidA groove of the boot on said wedge, the top of the splice bar bearing against the lateral Vprojections ofthe jrail heads, said splicebar secured tothe web of therails by bolts permitting the rails limited 4longitudinal` expansion and contraction,

`abi`1tmentsl on the websof the joined rails, respectively, one oi said abutmentswlocated adjacent the projecting end oi'i said wedge, the other at theopposite end of theboot,

whereby upon the longitudinal movement of Vthe rail, said wedge `will be further driven in .thereby to'expand the vsplice/.bar Vandinterpose resistance to the 'meeting foifthe joinedrailiends f' V "u i 6. The combination with arailjoint, fof

`means preventing the `creeping ofthe joined `rails comprising, albo'ot mounted ongthe .base

.iange yatthe side of the rail'facross the joint,

said boot .'comprisinga base adapted to be seated `on said base flange, the `upperface of Y the boot provided with arlongitudinal groove, a wedge 1n said groove, the-thicker* end of which wedge "projects beyondithe Vlboot-ra splice bar bearing-in saidgroove of "the boot `on` said wedge, the topoii the splice bar. bear- `ing'against the lateral projections of the rail heads, said splice bar secured to the web of the rails by' boltsperniitting therails limited longitudinal `'expansion and contraction, means to prevent `the retractive movementof the Wedgefrom theposition t0 which advanced, an abutment.Y secured toythe web of one of the joined rails adjacenty the projecting end of said Wedge,.whereby uponthe longitudinal movement of the rail, said Wedgewill be further-driven in thereby to expand the splice bar and inter-pose, resistance tothe meeting of thejoined railends,

7 In a splice for rail joints, a boot mountT ed on the base flange at the sideof the rail across `the joint, said boot comprising a base adapted to be seatedl on said base flange, the upper faceofthe boot provided with a longitudinal groove, a Wedge insaid groove, the thicker end of which Wedgeprojects beyond the boot, a splice bar bearing in said groove of the boot' onsaid Wedge, the top of the splice bar bearing against the rvlaterialprojections-of the rail heads, said splice vbar securedY tothe Web of the'rails by bolts permitting the rails limited longitudinal expan-v sion and contraction and an abutment vsecured to the Web of oneof the joined rails adjacent the projecting end of said Wedge. 8. In a splice Vforrail joints, a boot` niounted on thebase flange at the side of the rail across the joint, said boot comprising a base adapted to be seated on said baseflange, the upper faceof the boot provided with a longitudinal groove, a Wedge in said' groove, the

thicker end of which Wedge projects beyond the boot, a splice bar provided With a transversely enlarged foot and top, and bearing Y in said groove of the boot on said Wedge,

.the top of the splice lbar bearing against the lateral projections of therail VYheads, said splice bar secured to theweb of the rails by bolts permitting the rai-ls limitedV longitudinal expansion and contraction andan abutment secured to the ,Webof one of the joined rails adjacent the Vprojecting endof Cil "said Wedge.

' 9. In a splice for rail joints, a bootjmou-nted on the base flangeV at the side of the rai-1 'across the joint, said boot comprising a base `adaptedto beiseated on said base flange, the upper face of thel boot providedv with a longitudinalgroove, a Wedge in said groove, the thicker end of Which Wedge projects beyond the boot, a splice bar provided Wi-th a transversely enlarged foot and top, and bearing in said groove of the booty on said Wedge, the' ltop of theV splice bar bearingagainst the' 'of the joinedfrails adjacent thefprojecting ,10..In Va splicey mounted on the base flange at the side ofthe endy of said Wedge.

for rail joints, a boot rail across the-joint, Said boot comprisingfa base adapted to be seated on said base flange, the upper face of the boot provided with. a longitudinaly groove, a Wedge in said groove, the thickervend of which Wedge projects beyond the boot, a bifurcate.. splice bar bea-ring in said groove of the boot on said Wedge, the top of the splice bar bearing against the lateralprojections off the rail heads, said splicebar securedto the Web of the rails by bolts permittingI the, rails limited longitudinal expansion and contraction, means on the boot tofeffect the spread of the bifurcated end .of the Wedge element thereby to prevent the retractive movement of the Wedge from the position to which advanced and an abutment secured to the web of one of the joined rails adjacent the projecting end of said Wedge. l

l1. In` a splice for rail joints, a boot mounted on the base flange at the side of the rail across the joint, said boot comprising a base adapted to be seated on said base flange, the upper face of the boot provided with alongitudinal groove, a Wedge in said groove, the'thicker end of which projects beyond the boot, a bifurcate splice bar provided With a transversely enlarged foot and top, and bearing in said groove of' the boot on said Wedge, the top of the splice bar bearingagainst the lateral projections of the rail heads, said splice bar secured to the web of the rails by bolts permitting the rails limited longitudinal expansion and contraction, means onthe boot to effect the spread of thek bifurcated end of the Wedge element thereby to prevent the retractive movement of the Wedge from the position to Which advanced andan abutment'secured tothe web of one of' the joined rails adjacent the projecting end of said Wedge.-

. 12. In a splice for rail joints, a boot mounted on the basev flanges at the sides of the rails across the joint, said boot ,comprising a base adapted to be seated on said base flange, the upper face of the boot provided with a longitudinal groove, a Wedge in said groove, the thicker end of Which Wedge projects beyond the boot, an Yabutment secured vto the Web of one of the joined rails adjacent the projecting end of said Wedge, whereby upon the longitudinal movement of the rail, said Wedge will Vbe further driven in, thereby to expand the splice bar and interpose resistance to the meeting of the joined rail ends.

13. In a splice for rail'joints, a boot mounted on the base fianges at each of the sides of the rails lacross the joint, said boots each comprising a base adapted to be seated Von said base flanges,:the upper face of the boot provided With a longitudinal-1 groove,

'a Wedge in said groove, the thicker end of which Wedge projects i beyond the boot, a splice bar bearing in said groove of the boot on said Wedge, the, top of the splice bar bearing against the latecal projections of the i'eil heads, said Splice bai' secured to the Web of the rails by bolts permitting the mils limited longitudinal expansion and contraction, means to prevent theretrective move ment of the Wedge from the position to which advenoedend abutments on the Webs of the l joined mils,v respectively, rone of said abutments located. adjacent the projecting end o said Wedge, the other et the opposite end of the boot. y Y d e ERNEST C. NEAL. 

